UFC 312 is upon us! On the eve of the Super Bowl inside the United States, MMA‘s top promotion, the UFC, has some big fights of their own on the schedule in Australia, where it will already be Sunday morning by the time the contests roll around.
This week’s card takes place live from Sydney and the Qudos Bank Arena. Live coverage of UFC 312 begins Saturday night (US time) at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT with the early prelims in a simulcast on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+. Late prelims follow at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ESPN+ and ESPN2 before the night is capped off with the main card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
All told, after an adjustment to the card was made directly before the weigh-ins on Friday morning, the final version of tomorrow night’s show now features 12 fights.
Contest Withdrawn From UFC 312 Right Before Weigh-In Takes Place
Ahead of the official weigh-in period beginning for UFC 312 Friday morning, a planned flyweight contest that was to pit Hyun Sung Park (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) against Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was announced as postponed due to the latter encountering issues with his weight cut. Neither man made an attempt to go to the scale.
All other fighters on the show made weight without issue, including the fighters on the two championship tilts at the top of the bill. Dricus Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) makes his second defense of the UFC Middleweight Championship in the main event of the evening vs. Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC), while Zhang Weili (25-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) faces off against Tatiana Suarez (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the strawweight belt.
Interesting Fights on UFC 312 Undercard
Although Saturday’s main card has some must-see fights, you shouldn’t sleep on the undercard. Here are a few of the fights during the prelims you should keep your eye on.
UFC 312 Co-Featured Prelim: Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev:
Near the top of the bill on the undercard, action takes place in the lightweight division when Tom Nolan (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets up with Viacheslav Borschev (8-4-1 MMA, 3-3-1 UFC.) Tom Nolan enters Saturday’s card having posted a record of 4-1 in his last five fights and is currently on a two-fight winning streak.
Back in August of last year, he got his hand raised in victory with a unanimous decision over Alex Reyes (13-5 MMA, 0-3 UFC.) Saturday’s co-featured prelim is Nolan’s second straight appearance on an Australian card.
He’s already won once in his home country within the past year. Can he go 2-for-2 in front of his countrymen?
Across the way, Borschev comes into the weekend with a 2-2-1 record over the course of his last five contests. He’s hopeful to build off of a split decision victory against James Llontop (14-5 MMA, 0-3 UFC) on Aug. 24, 2024.
Borschev has not enjoyed a sustained winning streak in MMA since March 26, 2021 to Jan. 15, 2022, when he won four in a row, along with securing his UFC contract on Contender Series. Will he start a new streak this weekend?
UFC 312 Prelims: Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil
Also on the undercard is a women’s flyweight contest between Wang Cong (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Bruna Brasil (10-4-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC). Wang will make the walk on a 4-1 clip in her last five fights.
Right before the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, she saw her six-fight winning streak to start her career come to an end by way of technical submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round against Gabriella Fernandes (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) during UFC Macau. How will Wang Cong rebound from her first career defeat in the sport? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Bruna Brasil comes in having gone 3-2 in her last five fights, alternating wins and losses in her last four. Back on July 27, she scored a unanimous decision win after 15 minutes over Molly McCann (14-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC) during UFC 304. Will she be able to parlay her victory versus McCann to a second win in a row?
UFC 312 Prelims: Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef
Earlier in the evening, you’ll see a bout at welterweight versing Kevin Jousset (10-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) against Jonathan Micallef (7-1 MMA, UFC promotional debut.) Jousset enters the show with a 4-1 record over the course of his last five contests.
He’s reeling from a second-round knockout loss (punches) against Bryan Battle on Sept. 28 in front of his countrymen in Paris, France. Jousset will be playing the role of the heel this Saturday night, so will he send the Australian crowd home with frowns on their faces?
In the other corner, Jonathan Micallef comes into his UFC debut in UFC 312 having posted a record of 4-1 in his last five contests and is on a two-fight winning streak. A former champion in Hex Fight Series, he secured his UFC contract last October in the season finale of Contender Series vs. Mohamed Ado (5-2 MMA) by way of technical submission (triangle choke) during the first round.
You never get a second chance for a first impression. Micallef seeks to make good in his UFC debut with his countrymen rooting him on all the way.
Final Thoughts
Which prelim or prelims are you looking forward to on UFC 312? Let us know in the comments.
